Strawberry plant named ‘Octavia’

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides new and distinct strawberry plant designated as ‘Octavia’ (a.k.a. ‘108991’).

Latin name of the genus and species: Fragaria x ananassa.

Varietal denomination: ‘Octavia’ (a.k.a. ‘108991’).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to new and distinct strawberry plant designated as ‘Octavia’ (a.k.a. ‘108991’).

‘Octavia’ (a.k.a. ‘108991’) is the result of a controlled-cross made on Apr. 27, 2012 between a female parent cultivar designated 107967 and a male parent cultivar designated 3236 made by the Inventor and was first fruited in Watsonville, Calif. growing fields. Following selection and during testing, the plant was originally designated ‘108991’ and subsequently named ‘Octavia’. ‘Octavia’ is a day-neutral plant.

This new strawberry plant was asexually reproduced via runners (stolons) by the inventor at Watsonville, Calif. Asexual propagules from the original source have been tested in Watsonville growing fields and to a limited extent, grower fields in high elevation. The properties of this plant were found to be transmissible by such asexual reproduction. The plant is stable and reproduces true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to new and distinctive strawberry plant designated as ‘Octavia’ (a.k.a. ‘108991’). The plant is primarily adapted to the climate and growing conditions of the central coast of California. This region provides the necessary temperatures required for it to produce a strong vigorous plant and to remain in fruit production from March through October. The nearby Pacific Ocean provides the needed humidity and moderate day temperatures and evening chilling to maintain fruit quality for the production months.

‘Octavia’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions, and the phenotype may vary significantly with variations in environment, however with no variance in genotype. The following observations, measurements, and comparisons describe this plant as grown under normal conditions in Watsonville, California unless otherwise noted.

The following traits and photographs in combination distinguish strawberry plant ‘Octavia’ from known strawberry plants. Plants for the botanical measurements in the present application were grown as annuals. Any color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The plants were 8-month old when the observation was made.

TABLE 1 ‘Octavia’ Characterisitics Characteristic Description General Plant Habit perennial Plant Growth Habit semi-upright Day length neutral Plant season Fall Height (cm) 39.5 cm Width (cm) 35 cm Density of foliage, vigor light Plant vigor moderate to high Harvest ease easy Rain/weather tolerance moderate Crown diameter 4.0 cm Fertility Self-fertile Freezing quality moderate Leaf Terminal leaflet width (mm) 85.88 mm Terminal leaflet length (mm) 78.6 mm Terminal leaflet length/width ratio 0.919 Leaflets per leaf 3 Number of leaflets 120 No. teeth/terminal leaflet: 21 shape of the terminal leaflet Orbicular shape of the terminal leaflet apex Rounded shape of the terminal leaflet base acute shape of terminal leaflet in concave cross-section shape of the terminal leaflet margin Serrate to crenate margin description of the terminal crenate Color of upper side of leaves RHS 137A Color of lower side of leaves RHS 138D Terminal Leaflet margin Flat to revoute Leaf variegation absent Leaf blistering weak Leaf glossiness medium Limbs Petiole length 24.5 cm Petiole diameter 4.57 mm Petiole pubescence medium Petiole pose of hairs Horizontal Petiole color RHS 145A Petiolule length 9.84 mm Petiolule diameter ( 2.18 mm Petiolule color RHS 145A Stipule length 3.5 cm Stipule width 11 mm Stipule pubescence Medium to dense Stipule anthocyanin Present Stipule color (color code) RHS 145A Stipule anthocyanin color RHS 184D Pedicel length 13.5 cm Pedicel diameter 2.88 mm Pedicel color (color code) RHS 145A Peduncle length 19 cm Peduncle diameter 3.77 mm Peduncle color RHS 145A Peduncle pubescence Medium attitude of hairs on upwards petiole and pedicel Inflorescence Inflorescence position above relative to foliage Number of flowers 40 to 56 Flowers per Truss 3 to 8 flower arrangement of petals free to touching Flower diameter 3.3 cm Petal length 1.4 cm Petal width 1.5 cm Characteristic Description Petal length/width ratio 0.93 Petal number per flower 5 to 6 Upper petal color RHS 155C Lower petal color RHS 155C Petal shape Orbicular to oval Petal apex Rounded Petal margin entire Petal base shape Concave peduncle size medium Calyx diameter 28.28 mm Calyx diameter relative to corolla equal Inner calyx diameter relative to equal outer calyx Corolla diameter 32.60 mm Sepal number per flower 12 Sepal length 8.95 mm Sepal width 6.11 mm Sepal shape elliptical Sepal apex convex Sepal margin entire Number of stamen 27 Anther color 12A Time of flowering April (50% of plants in bloom) Shape of stigma capitate Color of stigma 14A Length of style 2.5 mm Color of style RHS 12A Color of the ovary RHS 145C Receptacle color RHS 145A Number of stamen 27 Length of the stamens 3.9 mm Shape of anther dorsifixed Anther diameter 0.9 mm Size of anther 1.74 mm Color of anther RHS 12A Amount of pollen scarce to moderate Color of pollen RHS 163A Color of filament RHS 145C Length of filament 3.1 mm Stolon Stolon length 62.8 cm Stolon thickness Medium to large Stolon pubescence Medium Stolon number 2 to 5 Stolon anthocyanin 181A Widest diameter of stolon 6.17 mm At leaf attachment Stolon color 145B Fruit Number of fruit per truss 2 to 5 Fruit length (cm) 4.8 cm Fruit width (cm) 4.1 cm Color of calyx RHS 145B Pose of calyx segments reflexed Size of calyx in relation to fruit equal Fruit length 4.8 cm Fruit width 4.1 cm Fruit length/width ratio 1.17 Fruit skin color RHS 45A Fruit flesh color excluding core RHS 41B Fruit core color RHS 39B Fruit weight (g) 29 g Relative fruit size Medium to large Predominant fruit shape long conic Shape difference between primary No shape & secondary fruits difference Width of band without of achenes medium Fruit glossiness strong Position of achenes in relation to below skin surface Achene color RHS 2C Achenes per fruit 475 Achene weight (g) 0.28 g Surface texture smooth Texture when tasted fine Position of calyx above Diameter of calyx 3.3 cm level of adherence of calyx medium Color of calyx 145B Firmness of flesh firm Evenness of flesh color nearly even Hollow core length 2.3 cm Hollow core width 0.9 cm Hollow core length/width ratio 2.56 Hollow core dize medium Type of bearing Day neutral Time of fruit ripening May Characteristic Description Harvest maturity (50% of plants June with ripe fruit Appearance Score 4 (1 to 5, with 5 = best) Storage longevity 5 to 11 days Yield per plant per season 3.4 kg Sweetness (Brix) 7 Acidity (pH) 3.44

‘Octavia’ is similar to ‘Monterey’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 19,767), but possesses several distinguishing traits from ‘Monterey’. ‘Octavia’ presents shorter petiole lengths and flower stem lengths than ‘Monterey’. ‘Monterey’ produces mostly conic and long conic fruit while ‘Octavia’ produces long conic fruit predominantly. The male parent of ‘Octavia’ differs from ‘Octavia’ by producing globose fruit. Both the female parent of ‘Octavia’ and ‘Monterey’ produce firmer fruit than ‘Octavia’. ‘Octavia’ produces larger strawberries than both of its parents do.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying color photographs depict various characteristics of the cultivars as nearly true as possible to make color reproductions.

FIG. 1 shows ripe and near-ripe fruits of ‘Octavia’ about 6-month old.

FIG. 2 shows a leaf of ‘Octavia’ plants.

FIG. 3 shows petiole of ‘Octavia’ plants.

FIG. 4 shows inflorescences of ‘Octavia’ plants.

FIG. 5 shows fruits of ‘Octavia’ plants.

FIG. 6 shows fruits of ‘Octavia’ plants cut in half. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of strawberry plant named ‘Octavia’, substantially as shown and described herein. 